Camera-support.



Patented lune I0, |902.

.w. "AQ MAnBAcH. cAmEA suPPoBT.

(Appxieion mea nu. 2, 190x.)

(lo Model.)

' In ventor,

i f h UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. MARBACH,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CAM ERA-SUPPO RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 702,018, dated .T une10, 1902.

Application led March 2, 1901.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. MAsBAcH, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Cleveland, count-y of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio,have invented a new and useful Improvement in Camera-Supports, of whichthe following is a specification, the principle of the invention beingherein explained and the best Inode in which I have contemplatedapplying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My inventionv relates to supports, and particularly t0 tripods forsupporting cameras, its object being to provide a tripod of the mosteconomical construction combined with lightness and compactness.l

Said invention consists of 'means hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following. description-set forth in detailcertain means embodying the invention, such disclosed means constitutingbut one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of theinvention may be lused.

In said annexed drawings, Figure I representsV a front elevation'of atripod embodying my invention. Fig. II represents ank enlarged verticalaxial cross-section of the tripod-' head, showing parts connectedtherewith in elevation. Fig. III represents a longitudinal cross-sectionof a portion of one tripodleg on an enlarged scale; and Fig. IVrepresents a transverse section of such leg on the same scale, showingthe thumb-screw in elevation therein.

Each leg A of the tripod is formed of two members a and a', formed withregistering vlongitudinal slots a2 and a3, respectively, the. one beingslidable within Vthe other, sofas to form a telescoping structure. Eachsuch slot is flanked by lateral longitudinal fianges and a5,respectively, the outer surfaces of thev flanges a5 of the inner membero. contacting the inner surfaces .of the iianges a4 of the outer member,as shown in Fig. IV. 'Opposite slot d3 in member a and upon the outsidethereof. is formed a longitudinal bead a6, which is located and slidesin a longitudinal groove a7, formed upon the inner surface of member a',thereby maintaining the correct relative positions of the two membersduring Serial No. 49,573. (No model.)

the movement of one within the other, preventing binding of suchmembers, and forming strengthening-ribs for stiffeningthe structure byincreasing the cross-section in the direction of iiexure. These membersare preferably formed by pressing, during which process the bead a6 may.be formed by pressing a groove upon the inside of member a and abeadupon the outside of member mas shown. The cross-section of such'membersis prefer-` ably made U-shaped, as shown, such form being especiallydevoid of 4liability to binding and being readily formed by suchpressing process. t l

Upon the lower end of each outer member a. is secured, by brazingorriveting, a bridge b, provided with a centralpopenin g b, through whichfreely passes a thumb-screw B, whose inner extremity engages a nutbfthelateral portions of whose upper surface engage a portion of the lowersurface of the fianges a5 of the inner member. Such structureconstitutes a clamp for iixing the inner and outer members andpreventing longitudinal movement relatively to each other, which iseffected by drawing the nut up against the flanges a5, thereby effectingfrctional engagement between such two members sufficient to prevent suchlongitudinal movement'. Said nut is provided with an inwardly-extendinglug b3, which is located in the line of thepath of movement of anoutwardly-extending lug as, formed in the upper end of the inner memberor', as shown in Fig. III. The contact of the two lugs limits theoutward movement of such inner member and prevents. the two members frombecoming detached from each other.

The head of the tripod' is formed with a surface c being concave, asshown in Fig. II, forming one member of a universal joint. The middle ofsuch surface is inter-seated by an enlarged opening c2, through whichextends a thumb-screw D, whose upper end en- Vmember C, formed with lugsc, to which the legs are suitably hinged, the upper central gages athread formed in the bottom E of the thread `on the thumb-screw. Thisconstruction is well known and permits the screw to be loose in thehead, is prevented from dropping out, and may be detached. Said member Cis formed with a convex surface c, seated in the concave surface c.Intermediately of a shoulderclformed upon said screw D and thecontiguous head-surface is located a spring disk F, which normallypresses against both head and shoulder and maintains sufficientfrictional contact in the joint to prevent undue movement of the cameraupon the head when the thumb-screw is not tightly fastened. Suchfrictional contact permits of the adjustment of the cameras positionupon the tripod before the camera is finally and tixedly securedthereon.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinventionl. In a support, a leg comprising in its construction twotelescoping members slidable one within the other and each provided witha longitudinal slot, such slots being located upon the same side of theleg, and means for adjustably securing such members to each other.

2. In a camera-support, a leg comprising in its construction twotelescoping members slidable one within the other and each provided witha longitudinal slot, such slots being located upon the same side of theleg, each member of said leg having a longitudinal bead, and means foradjustably securing such members together.

3. A camera-support comprising a plurality of legs each of whichconsists of two members slidable one within the other and each providedwith a longitudinal slot, such slots being located upon the same side ofthe leg, a bridge secured to the lower end of each outer member, athumb-screw passing through the bridge, a nut provided with a lug, a lugon the inner member of each leg, said thumbscrew engaging `the n ut,substantially as described.

Signed by me this 21st day of February,

WM.. A. MARBACII. Attest:

D. T. DAvIEs, A. E. MERKEL.

